Kaduna State Muslim Welfare Pilgrims Board (KSMWPB) on Sunday commenced distribution of bags and materials for uniform to this year’s registered intending pilgrims.

When our reporter, Bisitee Rigachikum visitedIgabi Local Government Area centre, one of the enlightenment centres in 23 LGAs of the state, the materials for uniform and bags were distributed to the intending pilgrims.

“We shall commence the screening by Thursday and hopefully conclude by Sundayinsha Allah,” an official at the Igabi centre said.

Intending pilgrims are also to undergo medical screening this week in order to ascertain their health status before embarking on the life time journey.

A press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Board, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi on Sunday, explained that female intending pilgrims would have to undergo pregnancy test, in addition to the general medical screening of other pilgrims.

“Medical screening is compulsory for all intending pilgrims and we will only accept screening that is conducted in government designated hospitals.

“The medical and pregnancy tests are absolutely necessary and compulsory. So any pilgrim who refuses to undergo them can lose his or her Hajj seat,” the statement said.

The Board further advised intending pilgrims to collect medical cards from their respective registration officers before going to the designated hospitals for the screening.

The airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2017 will begin on July 30, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said.

The commission also said it has started processing visa for about 40,000 intending pilgrims that have so far completed their payments in various states of the federation.

The states with the highest number of registered pilgrims are Kaduna 6,335, followed by Niger with 4,129 while Zamfara, Kano and Sokoto each has about 3,000 pilgrims.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows of registered female intending pilgrims queuing for the distribution of bags at Rigachikum, Igabi LGA centre